Flight of the Conchords: HBO Series Cancelled, No Season Three

by Trevor Kimball, December 11, 2009

To no real surprise, Flight of the Conchords has been grounded. But, unlike most other TV series, the cancellation wasn’t the network’s idea.

Flight of the Conchords is a unique comedy and music series that follows a two-person novelty band from New Zealand. It stars Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement as fictionalized versions of themselves, as well as Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal, and Arj Barker.

The series debuted in June of 2007 and ran for 12 episodes on HBO. Conchords was renewed for a second season in August 2007 and was expected to begin airing in 2008. Production was delayed until September 2008, in part because of the writers strike. So, season two episodes weren’t broadcast until January 2009.

Clement and McKenzie were interviewed back in August 2008 and indicated that season two would probably be the end. McKenzie commented, “The second series [season] seems to me like it would be a good end to the show.”

Would you like to see a Conchords special?

In July 2009, HBO executives indicated that they wanted a third season of Conchords and were waiting for the duo to do it. The head of HBO’s programming, Michael Lombardo, said, “We’ve told them we’re ready to go for a third season.”

A few months later, Clement expressed doubts about a third season and contemplated either a shorter season or a special.

Now, the duo has made the show’s fate official — they’ve cancelled the series. On their website, they posted,

Bret, Jemaine and James (co-creator/director) said “we’ve noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won’t be returning for a 3rd season. We’re very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist.

What do you think? Are you sorry that Conchords won’t be back for season three? Would you be open to a special of some kind?

Maaaaaaaaaaan. I loved this show so much. I lost 12 girlfriends in the process because I never missed an episode. Does that math add up? I’ll tell you what does add up: FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS. You guys rocked and brought joy to my life with every episode. I think we’re all a little freaky baby. Man oh man I’m so hot for Mel.

This is the most disgusting news i’ve ever heard. This show was better than 90% of the garbage HBO has out now. I want to hang myself from a tree and swing there lifelessly to show HBO how depressed this makes me. My reproductive organ will never get hard again. Thanks a lot

Come on people as great as the 1st season was you have to agree that the second season was lacking the magic the 1st season captured. So as much as i hate to see the show end i believe that they did the right thing. FOC Forever!

this is very disappointing but I can understand ending it the way they did, it does take a lot to do all of those songs and I think fans would be disappointed if the show ended on a low note, so farewell Conchords!!